Dust Off Your Swiss Army Knife: Here Are 7 Ways To Use the Multi-Tool Around the House
You don't need to be a Scout to get daily use out of your Swiss Army Knife. The handy, multipurpose tool was designed to aid in a slew of chores in addition to all those hiking, camping and outdoor tasks. There are a lot of ways to employ a Swiss Army Knife to make everyday tasks easier, from pruning houseplants to popping a wine cork.
"Blending expert artisanship with intelligent functionality, the Swiss-made knives offer up to 73 functions and provide smart solutions to master everyday life situations," says Franziska Hoffmann-Fröde, head of the product category at Victorinox, the product's primary manufacturer.
If you've acquired your very own Swiss Army knife -- or a comparable small multitool -- and are searching for inspiration, look no further than these eight tips to take full advantage of your purchase. It may even replace some of your go-to cooking gadgets or household tools.
1. Peeling fruits and vegetables
Your Swiss Army Knife is a capable vegetable peeler.
David Watsky/CNET
Avocado-cutting hand injuries, be gone! Many knives and multitools contain both small and large blades to safely peel fruits and veggies. The small blade is ideal for peeling practically any type of produce while the large blade is "precise and handy" for other tasks such as slicing apples and bananas, Hoffmann-Fröde says.
2. Scaling fish
Whether you're enjoying the fruits of your fishing trip or preparing a fresh cut from the supermarket, a fish scaler works astonishingly well at -- you guessed it -- scaling fish. Now your filets will be free of the scales and skin that can overpower a dish.
3. Pruning plants and flowers
The big blade is perfect for pruning neglected houstplants.
David Watsky/CNET
Plants and fresh-cut flowers can brighten an otherwise dull and sterile kitchen space. Use your Swiss Army knife to prune these living things so they remain colorful and vibrant. "First, sanitize the blade with alcohol or soap and water, then cut any damaged leaves or leggy stems," says Hoffman-Fröde.
4. Opening shellfish
Shucking fresh clams, oysters and mussels is no longer a chore with the flathead screwdriver, designed to be inserted into the shells' hinge so that they pop open easily.
5. Removing gunk and grime
The small utility blade is great for cleaning grime out of small grooves and other tight spots.
David Watsky
The flathead screwdriver can also assist with kitchen clean-up in hard-to-reach places, especially in the space between your countertop and stove. "Gently push or scrape to dislodge crumbs, grease or other sticky substances," says Hoffmann-Fröde.
6. Deciphering fine print
Labels, expiration dates and cookbook text can be aggravatingly tiny and challenging to read. Luckily, your Swiss Army knife has a magnifying glass to make out the fine print and ensure that you use the right amount of (unexpired!) ingredients.
7. Cutting seals and opening wine
If this is the only thing you use your SAK for, it'd still be worth it.
David Watsky/CNET
Cheers to the Swiss Army knife's ability to not only cut through the seal of any liquor bottle but also uncork wine. The small blade and corkscrew work in tandem to open your favorite libations so that less energy is spent hassling with packaging and you can move on to enjoying your beverage with a favorite appetizer or meal.
Swiss Army knife tools
The fish scaler tool is the piece with the jagged edge on a Swiss Army knife.
Getty Images
Before you partake in the aforementioned kitchen activities, becoming more familiar with the Swiss Army knife's features is important. The standard Huntsman model from Victorinox touts a whopping 15 tools, including large and small blades, corkscrew, reamer, punch and sewing awl, scissors, wood saw, multipurpose hook, key ring, tweezers, toothpick, can opener, bottle opener, wire stripper and two screwdrivers.
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But for all the frozen things, they are chockfull of fats so you don't really need to add any more." 5. Using not enough oil or the wrong kind Patchy spots of dried flour, incinerated broccoli florets and dehydrated potatoes can all be victims of not enough oil in the air fryer. When it is called for, you do need to consider what kind of oil to use. Olive oil is the grab-and-go for most of us, but "it has a lower smoke point," says Yoder, which can result in burnt flavors if you're air frying for a longer time at the top of its temperature range. "I just recommend avocado oil. It has a nice high smoke point, and it's healthy." 6. Overcrowding the basket Don't pile sprouts and other foods on top of each other or they won't cook evenly. Alexandra Able/CNET Air fryers rely on air circulation. "It's essentially just a mini convection oven," Yoder says, "For crispy things you want air to be able to get around all of them." 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